18 November 2003

The government has published regulations paving the way for payment of once-off R30 000 reparation grants to about 22 000 South Africans who were declared victims of apartheid by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Published in the Government Gazette last week, the regulations are the last phase in disbursing reparations, in line with Parliament's adoption of the TRC recommendations presented to Parliament by President Thabo Mbeki in April.

The payment process started on Tuesday 18 November and will extend over two months.

In a statement released on Sunday, the government said the regulations stipulate the criteria of those who qualify for the reparations grants.

In cases where the identified victim is deceased, the grant will be paid to whoever the urgent interim reparation grant was initially paid out to. (The government has already paid out more than R50-million to 16 500 of the 18 800 victims identified by the TRC as needing urgent relief.)

"If both the identified victim and the person to whom urgent interim reparation was paid are not alive, then the reparation grant will be paid to the spouse of the identified victim or shared equally among spouses, if there is more than one spouse," the statement said.

In cases where the identified victim is not survived by a spouse, the grant will be paid out equally in order of preference to the identified victims' children, the parents or other blood relations of the victim.

"If the victim is not survived by any person, then the money will remain in the Fund."

Government said the President's Fund was communicating with all those eligible for reparations in order to obtain their banking details.

Those who qualify for the grant should contact the department of justice and constitutional development's President's Fund to update their details. The telephone number to call is (012) 315-1786 / 1286, or write to: The President's Fund, Private Bag X81, Pretoria, 0001.

Those who appeared before the TRC and were declared victims but have not yet received grants are also urged to contact the President's Fund.

People are requested to quote their TRC reference number or their identity document number when corresponding with the Fund.

Source: BuaNews

	Audience members at a TRC hearing in Port Elizabeth (Photo: Iris Films)

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